Spotlight On: TNBC Thrivers

Spotlight On: TNBC Thrivers

TNBC Thrivers provides community and support for anyone diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
Spotlight On: TNBC Thrivers
Photos courtesy of TNBC Thrivers
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Published on April 14, 2025
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In January 2018, Kelly Thomas was diagnosed with stage 3C triple-negative breast cancer, a rare and aggressive breast cancer type.

 At Thomas’s first oncology appointment, her doctor told her to prepare for the worst. “[It] was absolutely soul crushing,” says Thomas.

She immediately searched for other women with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) on social media, trying to find someone who could offer hope. “It was very hard to find someone with breast cancer, let alone triple-negative breast cancer — triple-negative is its own shade of pink. There was nothing for me. I couldn't find my people,” Thomas says. But she didn’t give up.

As she went through IV chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and radiation, Thomas continued to search for a group who would understand what she was going through. She found some helpful communities, but none that could speak to the specifics of triple-negative breast cancer.

We’re on a mission to make triple-negative breast cancer feel a little less lonely.
— Kelly Thomas

Thomas once dreamed of becoming a journalist, so she felt eager and comfortable sharing her diagnosis and treatment journey on social media. “It just felt natural to start counting chemos and share [my experience].”

“In 2019, I finally put together what I so desperately needed — I created TNBC Thrivers,” says Thomas. “My goal was that all the future Kelly Thomases would find the one story they could hold on to.” She wanted others with TNBC to say, ”If Kelly Thomas can beat this thing, I can beat this thing.”

Throughout 2019, Kelly attended breast cancer conferences to discover new ways to reach out to her TNBC community and provide more support. But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and lockdowns stopped her from growing the community in person. That’s when Thomas discovered Zoom. She bought an account, announced it on Instagram, and started a regular video chat named Thriver Thursday.

Her Zoom chats and Instagram community quickly grew popular, and soon, Thomas was recruited by another cancer organization to help with their community support. She worked with them for four years. After their partnership ended, Thomas’s husband encouraged her to throw all her efforts into TNBC Thrivers.

In June 2024, Thomas relaunched not only Thriver Thursday chats, but a website offering chats, webinars, events, and community support.

Goals of TNBC Thrivers

TNBC Thrivers exists to be a glimmer of hope for anyone with a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis. Thomas wants people with TNBC to find the support and encouragement they need more easily than she did.

“Doctors don't tell you all the things you need,” says Thomas. “They don't tell you that you should go out and get button-down pj’s, because you're not going to be able to lift your arms up. They're not telling you that you should have a recliner in your house, because you're going to have trouble lying flat on your bed.” In TNBC Thriver chats and webinars, tips like these are shared all the time.

Thomas is still on Instagram, where she started the TNBC Thrivers Community. TNBC Thrivers also has a Facebook Group with almost 300 members who share their struggles and wins. No matter where people find TNBC Thrivers, Thomas wants them to discover success stories, helpful advice, and a welcoming community.

Another important factor for Thomas is diversity, and she works to ensure ultimate inclusivity on her channels, website, and chats. “No matter what your background is, if you came to TNBC Thrivers on Instagram, I want you to see someone who looks like you.”

Services TNBC Thrivers Provides

With the mission of connecting and supporting others with triple-negative breast cancer, TNBC Thrivers provides several options for community, encouragement, and learning.

As a creator herself, Thomas understands the power of artistic expression in coping with TNBC, and is always on the lookout for new opportunities. For example, TNBC Thrivers hosts workshops for writing and drawing — techniques to process emotions and experience healing.

Once a month, TNBC Thrivers offers a free virtual sound bath experience, and anyone can join for a time of cozy meditation, peace, and clarity. They also host educational sessions, and their most recent was a Lymphedema Q&A with Tiana Brown, a doctor of occupational therapy.

For anyone who misses an event, they can get immediate support by catching up on their webinars page or YouTube channel.

TNBC Thrivers Events

Every month, TNBC Thrivers hosts regular meetings. Anyone can attend TNBC Thriver Tuesday on the first Tuesday of every month, or Thriver Thursday on the last Thursday of the month. For those who have stage 4 TNBC, they can attend the Metastatic Thrivers chat on the second Monday of the month.

Chat times change each month to include people from around the globe. All upcoming times are listed on their events page.

Although TNBC doesn’t hold in-person events yet (other than the occasional brunch announced in Thomas’s Instagram stories), some may be coming soon. “We have some exciting things in the pipeline!” says Thomas.

Sign up for their mailing list to get chat reminders and TNBC Thriver news. For questions about the organization or event times, you can contact TNBC Thrivers through any of their social media accounts or by emailing Thomas.

Core Belief

Thomas’s passion shines through TNBC Thrivers. As an active participant in chats and online events, she seeks to connect and support people with triple-negative breast cancer. “We’re on a mission to make triple-negative breast cancer feel a little less lonely.” 
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. March 1, 2023.
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Lisa D. Curcio, MD, FACS

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Lisa Curcio, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist. She is currently the medical director of breast surgery at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, New York. Dr. Curcio attended George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C., where she also completed a residency in general surgery. She was invited to fellowship training in cancer surgery at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California. She was the recipient of the competitive U.S. Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program. During her military commitment, Dr. Curcio served in the military as chief surgical oncologist at Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. 

From 2003 to 2004, she served as program director for Susan G. Komen in Orange County and remains involved with Komen outreach efforts. She was on the board of Kids Konnected, a nonprofit that helps children of cancer patients deal with the emotional fallout of a cancer diagnosis. Currently, she is on the board at Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support services for people affected by breast cancer in New York's Hudson Valley. Dr. Curcio also has a strong background in breast cancer research, having contributed to dozens of peer-reviewed articles. She is currently a member of the Alpha Investigational Review Board.

Her practice includes benign and malignant breast diagnoses. Dr. Curcio was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37. Although her fellowship training was in surgical oncology, this experience motivated her to provide compassionate, high level breast care and to focus on breast surgery.

Dr. Curcio is passionate about treating the patient and individualizing the care plan to their specific needs. Dr. Curcio strongly believes that cancer care must include lifestyle changes to focus on healthier habits to reduce future events. Her practice also focuses on breast cancer risk reduction, education, and access to genetic testing for patients with a family history of breast cancer.
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Abby McCoy, RN

Author

Abby McCoy is an experienced registered nurse who has worked with adults and pediatric patients encompassing trauma, orthopedics, home care, transplant, and case management. She is a married mother of four and loves the circus — that is her home! She has family all over the world, and loves to travel as much as possible.

McCoy has written for publications like Remedy Health Media, Sleepopolis, and Expectful. She is passionate about health education and loves using her experience and knowledge in her writing.

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